New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-08
many popular songs and was weIl-'hed and esteemed
BIZ his professional associates.
THE 1NrERsrA TE LAW IN THE SOUTH.
COMMISSIONER soHooSMAKEgs VIEWS
AARD TO GET THE TESTIMONY or BUSINESS MEN
DECLARING THE PACIFIC COAST COMPLAINTS
UNJUST.

AARD TO GET THE TESTIMONY or BUSINESS MEN
DECLARING THE PACIFIC COAST COMPLAINTS
UNJUST.
fpr TELEGRAPH TO THE rnrnuSs1
PrrrsBURo, May Judge schoonmAsor, OF new Yorr
a member OF tho Interstate Commerce Commission
passed through this city to-day on his way homo He
said From what have seen can't tell much about
the workings Of the law thus far u Is 100 early Ine
fourth orj long and short haul clause has only
been suspended temporarily in the South, and
until 1t Is decided whether or not this
suspension shall be permanent, the eject OF tho law
cannot BIO accurately judged Our object In going south
was TO take testimony to show whether the temporary
suspension OF the fourth clause should be continued
The great mass Of the testimony favored the suspen
sion There was practically nothing against ao on
in suspending this clause 1t argued that the water
competition was 30 great that the roads had to have
some provision this kind to help them out In FACT 50
far as we could gather testimony the preponderance Oh
1t was favor of the suspension"
"Did ron have any difficulty in securing testimony r.
"Of course we can summon whom We chooses but we
did find disposition among the business mon TO avoid
IL possible appearing before 1t seemed that they
were CARRYING out old idea that everybody Is willing
to talk about tho injustces OF railroads, but when
they are called upon to testify to such allegations
they prefer TO remain qulot 1t should be
remembered now that the business OF the country Ia no
longer In the hands OF the railroads The business men
sn CHARACTERIZATION to them on the other hand. the law
is not dictation against the railroads. but AGAINST
the abuses on them In the past the railroads could build
i'm town or ruin IL in Just as they might
choose. In the South, however. my observation IS
that TIL, railroads have generally proved great
benefit Many OF the most prosperous nowna IN
that section owe thor prosperity to the railroads.
noticed astonishing prosperity and the railroads
as before the new law went into effect IL would be
pity TO run the risk spelling this condition OF affairs by
resembling action in suspending the iourth clause
before we had thoroughly investigated the natter
Does II appear you that the new law Ia having rs
injurious effect upon the Pacific Coast shipments as
No the greatest clamor heard Of comes from
California Why, those people claim that they can't
ship fruit There Is nothing In the law
10 prevent any In tho East from making
rates to or from the Pacific Coast providing
that they ship intermediate points for moro Tho
law was passed help business and do away with
OF some people make capital out OF the law itself
in their pressing demands for special provisions The
complaints regarding the Pacific Coast shipments are
exaggerated There Is nothing in the law that Will hurt
the California fruit business as Is claimed" 80
Judge schoonnaker was besieged by several or MS
fellow travellers, all business men. one
was q wholesale dry goods merchant from 81
Louis He gave figures 10 show the Commissioner
that under the freight rates st. Louis dry goods
men had 10 pay 100 per cent higher rates
than their Chicago rivals. Ho wanted to know
there suggest remedy for this discrimination against
St Louis Another heavy shipper from tho West then
had 1--WE minutes conversation about the rates OK
the Pacific Coast shlpper Judge schoonmaker listened
patiently gentleman and made minute inquiries I'D
regard a their QrieyanCeS-